What is I-O?

Industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology is the scientific study of working and the application of that science to workplace issues facing individuals, teams, and organizations.
The scientific method is applied to investigate issues of critical relevance to individuals, businesses, and society.

Building a strategy to identify, develop, and retain top level talent will be the focus of a free 2-hour, pre-SIOP conference event designed especially for Houston area business and HR leaders from 3-5 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, the day before the 28th Annual SIOP Conference.

The session is being planned by the SIOP Visibility Committee with assistance from the Professional Practice Committee to demonstrate how I-O psychology can provide evidence-based scientific solutions that add value to businesses and organizations.

“One of SIOP’s goals is to demonstrate how I-O psychology can make key contributions to businesses and organizations,” said Jolene Skinner of Towers Watson based in Dallas, who is chairing the event. “We are leveraging the annual SIOP conference to reach out to local business and organization leaders and introduce them to a few different aspects of I-O that are highly relevant and visible to them.”

The event is entitled “Just For You: Strategy-Driven Executive Talent Management” and will feature presentations by three SIOP members. Jeff Facteau, vice president of professional services at SHL, will discuss how organizations can more reliably identify high-potential executive talent. Lorraine Stomski, partner at Aon Hewitt, will focus on approaches to developing and coaching top talent, and Allan Church, vice president at PepsiCo, will describe unique drivers that keep talent engaged and inspired.

The target audience includes senior leaders and decision makers as well as HR leaders with organizations located in the Greater Houston area. These are people who may not know much about I-O and would not be attending the conference. For many, it may be their first in-depth exposure to I-O and SIOP.

It is the expectation of the Visibility Committee that similar sessions could become a regular feature at future SIOP conferences, under the title of the Top Minds and Bottom Lines series.

“It can become important by introducing business leaders to the direct benefits of I-O and SIOP as the go-to profession that can assist organizations of all types with proven, scientifically backed solutions,” Skinner added.

The event will be held in the second floor Arboretum Room of the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 1200 Louisiana Street in Houston.

SIOP members are urged to invite non-I-O colleagues and friends to this free event. If interested, they should contact Stephany Below in the SIOP Administrative Office at 419-353-0032 or email sbelow@siop.org.